Photography centre in the frame for Capital building

Plans for a military museum in Edinburgh’s old Royal High School have been abandoned, making way for a proposed photography centre backed by Sean Connery. The campaign for a £20 million national photography centre, which will tell a ‘story of Scotland’, is now expected to pick up pace with the competition for the historic Calton Hill site now out of the running. A consortium backing the Hill Adamson photograph centre is currently drawing up a business plan and intends to apply for lottery cash. The Scottish Executive gave the campaign a fillip by confirming the building should be used.

A spokesman said: “The A-listed former Royal High School is one of Edinburgh’s most important buildings. Ministers support the re-use of historic buildings to give them a sustainable long-term future that recognises the building’s significance and qualities.” Meanwhile, the military museum consortium decided on a rethink after it emerged the running costs at the original site would top £1 million a year. The group is now looking to Leith for a suitable host.